Karine, the White House spokesperson, stated that only limited progress was made in the US-Iran negotiations. Axios also reported that the geo negotiations were hollow, and Trump moved closer to war; oil prices rose nearly 5 percent following the Axios report. She added that significant progress was made in yesterday’s Ukraine talks, and the next round of talks will be held in the future.

The minutes of the January Federal Reserve meeting showed that officials, contrary to market expectations, were cautious about cutting interest rates, and some even suggested the possibility of a rate hike. Most policymakers believe that last year’s labor market weakness is fading, but the risk of persistent inflation remains. This approach could put the Federal Reserve at odds with Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for rate cuts. At the same time, this situation complicates the task of Warsh, Trump’s nominee for the future chair of the central bank.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand stated that it expects the country’s economy to enter a period of strong growth while inflation simultaneously moves toward the 2 percent target. The RBNZ has kept the cash rate at 2.25 percent for now and continues an accommodative policy, as the economy still has spare capacity following the 2024 recession. Officials forecast that economic growth will reach around 2.8 percent by 2027, after which gradual rate increases may be needed. According to the bank’s governor, if this outlook materializes, a gradual rate hike may begin in late 2026. Assistant Governor Karen Silk stated that monetary policy remains accommodative and the rate-cut cycle has ended.

Australia’s unemployment rate held at 4.1 percent in January, and employment increased by 17.8 thousand jobs, mainly driven by full-time positions. This data indicates that the labor market remains strong, and the economy can withstand tight monetary policy. Following this report, the likelihood of another rate hike by the Reserve Bank of Australia in the coming months increased. Officials emphasized that, despite a relative easing of pressures, inflation remains above the target, and continued contractionary policy is necessary.